The History of the Automobile: Henry Ford and his Model T
The Model T -A car that changed America. Henry Ford had planned a revolution, but the end result even exceeded his expectations. The first Model T was introduced in showrooms in late 1908. At that time automobiles were considered play toys for the rich. After all, the Oldsmobile cost $2,750.00 and the average worker only earned around $500.00 per year.

Henry being a farm boy and wanting less affluent people to own cars had introduced the Model N in 1906 for a cost of only $600.00. He sold 8243 in a year. Despite the great sales, Ford felt the Model N was too conventional. Thus, in 1907, Ford set up shop in a small factory in Detroit. He told Charles Sorenson and Joseph Galamb to design a new car. The car that eventually rolled out was the first Model T. The T's compact body was tall, narrow, and sat high off the road. The Model T's road clearance, light weight, and tenacious engine made it virtually unstoppable on rural roads. However, things weren't perfect on the Model T. Too little choke or throttle and the engine wouldn't start. Too much choke, and it would flood.

The Model T wasn't the least expensive car on the market, but it was the most famous even before its official debut. By mid 1909, Ford had to tell dealers to send no more orders. It would be all the company could do to build the 18,257 cars that year. Six colors were offered, red, black, green, blue, and light and dark gray.

Due to heavy demand for the Model T, production had to be increased. Ford unhappy with the traditional assembly line, created a faster and more economical line. The new method allowed one unskilled worker to replace four or five skilled assemblers. By 1913, it took just 93 minutes for a Model T to be assembled.

The Model T was changed many times over the next few years, and the price continually lowered to keep up with competition. During the Great War, sales of the Model T had fallen and war material production too its place. But at wars end, it quickly became a seller's market with more than three quarters of a million Model T's sold in 1919. Throughout the early 20's production continued to increase. But by 1926, competition with other car makers reduced the Model T's popularity and in 1927 Ford announced the end of the Model T.

Ford records show a total of 15,007,033 Model T's had been built. Henry Ford and his Model T singlehandedly changed the automobile era. Some call the Model T - The Car that Changed A Nation

Chronology

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